Forest Boyce to represent U.S. in Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge

LAUREL, MD—As Lonesome Road cruised through the Laurel Park homestretch for his second consecutive victory, his jockey, Mychel Sanchez, remained frozen in his seat.

It wasn’t the typical Maryland January weather or the wind chill that kept Sanchez motionless. Instead, it was the dark bay gelding Lonesome Road’s brilliance that turned the talented rider into a mere passenger.

Friday’s eighth race, a $49,000 first-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up, was expected to be a major test for Lonesome Road, a well-bred runner who strolled to an 8 1/2-length maiden victory in his dirt debut on December 26.

Lonesome Road showed immense promise in that race, as reflected in his career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure, but he faced tougher competition and a potentially faster pace as he stretched out from six furlongs to a mile.

Sent away as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite, Lonesome Road ($3.20) immediately took the lead, controlled fractions of 23.74 and 47.28 seconds, opened a larger advantage after a six-furlong clocking of 1:12.54, and then drew off in the manner of a morning breeze.

The winning margin was 6 ¼ lengths, the final time was 1:37.72 on the fast main track, and neither Lonesome Road nor Sanchez broke a sweat.

Crab Daddy tried his hardest but finished a well-beaten second, 6 ½ lengths ahead of Davyjonz. Tony Eclipse, Group Ticket, Joe the Jet, Gluckstadt, Spring Decision, and Superpower could not threaten the winner. Be Tha Judge and States United scratched.

“He did that pretty easily,” said Tana Aubrey, assistant to winning trainer Michael Trombetta. “That was nice. It was like a replay of the last race. Going down the backside, he’s going pretty easily. His ears, when they’re going up, they’re playing.”

Lonesome Road, a 4-year-old by Maclean’s Music, was bred by the late R. Larry Johnson, who died on February 4, 2024, at age 78.

Johnson's foray into breeding at Legacy Farm in Bluemount, VA, began in 1978 when he purchased the mare Ran's Chick for a bargain-basement price of $2,800.

Although Ran's Chick never made it to the racetrack, she became Johnson's foundation broodmare, and more than 40 stakes winners emerged from that family. Ran’s Chick is Lonesome Road’s fourth dam.

Johnson served as Vice President of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Board of Directors. He also served with the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and was a board member of the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association. Between 2017 and 2022, Johnson was Maryland's leading earner of Maryland fund awards, with his horses earning more than $20 million.

Lonesome Road is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 stakes-winner Mindframe, who will stand his first season at Claiborne Farm in 2026. Another half-sibling, Hollywood Walk, was a stakes-winning turf sprinter.

Their dam, Walk of Stars, was a stakes-winning sprinter at Charles Town.

“She was the queen of the bullring,” Aubrey said.

Owned by the Estate of R Larry Johnson, Lonesome Road didn’t make his debut until July of his 3-year-old season, finishing seventh of eight in a restricted maiden special weight on Colonial’s turf. On September 12, shortening to 5 ½ furlongs on Colonial’s outer turf course, he finished second in another restricted maiden special.

“We knew it was there,” Aubrey said. “We knew he had the ability, but he wasn’t really concentrating.”

After being gelded, Lonesome Road found his focus. After switching to dirt, he seems to have discovered his preferred surface. Now, it’s time for Trombetta and Aubrey to find a proper challenge.

“I think Mike might start looking for a little step up for him [at Laurel],” Aubrey said, hinting at a stakes appearance as a possible short-term goal.

*Forest Boyce to represent U.S. in Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge

Forest Boyce, a longtime Maryland favorite, was selected to represent the United States in the Saudi Cup International Jockeys’ Challenge, scheduled for February 13 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Seven men and seven women compete in a four-race series over the Saudi Cup weekend. Boyce will face an all-star field that includes Flavien Plat, who was recently awarded the Eclipse for North America’s Outstanding Jockey for the second consecutive year; Arc de Triomphe, Breeders’ Cup Turf, Dubai World Cup, Epsom Derby, and Japan Cup winner Mickael Barzalona; 2025 Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle; French Oaks winner Hollie Doyle; and Japanese Group 1-winning jockey Keita Tosaki.

Boyce, a native of Fallston, Maryland, won on her first-ever mount, Maybe Satisfied, in a claiming race at Charles Town on November 18, 2006.

Boyce captured two riding titles at Laurel Park in 2010, including the fall meeting, where she recorded 71 wins. That year, she rode a career-best 129 winners. Boyce’s highest-earning season came in 2013, with $3,499,421.

She has scored five graded stakes wins in her career and has won 1,098 races, earning $40,616,778.

*Around the track:

Yedsit Hazlewood, Maryland’s leading rider in 2025, finished second in the Eclipse Award balloting for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Hazlewood, who will turn 18 on March 10, received 55 first-place votes, 71 behind Pietro Moran. Christopher Elliott placed third with 26 votes.

Trainer Kieron Magee saddled two winners on Friday’s program. Magee and jockey Jean Briceno teamed up with No More Calls ($8.20) in the third race. Magee then partnered with apprentice jockey Jose Vargas on Sunflower State ($22.80) in the sixth.

Vargas earned his second riding victory with a lovely rail-skimming ride aboard Fear Nothing ($17.60) in the ninth race for trainer Hamilton Smith.

Jockey Angel Cruz also piloted two winners. Sugar On Fire ($12,80) captured the second race for trainer Carlos Mancilla. Cruz used similar tactics aboard Breezing Up ($18.60) in the finale for trainer Donald Barr.

Due to expected frigid weather in the Mid-Atlantic region, Laurel Park canceled Saturday’s ten-race program. Laurel will remain open for full-card simulcasting, featuring the Pegasus World Cup card from Gulfstream Park. Doors open at 10:30 am for simulcasting. Saturday’s card will be brought back in its entirety on Friday.

Live racing resumes Friday with a 10-race card. The first post time is 12 pm ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout. There is a $9,822.87 carryover into the late “Value Pick 5” (races 6-10).

The FREE “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available every racing day. Get picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is available Thursday afternoon. Click here to view it.

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